Railway-rail coupling



(No Model.)

J. T. WIOKER. RAILWAY BAIL COUPLING.

No. 451,544. Patented May 5, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. \VICKER, OF SPRAGUE, IVASHINGTON.

RAILWAY-RAIL COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,544, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed October 27, 1890. Serial No. 369,485. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known. that I, JOHN T. Wroxnn, of Sprague, Lincoln county, IVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Rail Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in rail joints or couplings; and it consists in the novel combination and arrangement of the same, as will be fully specified hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My object is to provide a simple and effective device for coupling rails, by using which the necessity of bolts and nuts may be entirely dispensed with; but bolts and securingnuts may be used if thought proper.

By the use of this invention itis impossible for the rails to become disjointed without removing the spikes for nearly the entire length of the rails and raising the two loosened ends upward, when the coupling device may be removed.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate this invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the meeting ends of two rails with my coupling device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the coupling device applied to the ends and showing the same provided with securing-bolts. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the coupling device detached. Fig. 4 is a view showing the manner of applying or detaching the device on the meeting ends of two rails.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several figures, in which- A represents the meeting ends of the two rails, provided with semicircular recesses B B at the meeting ends of the necks 0, said semicircular recesses B engaging the similarly-curved sides E E of cross-bar D of the coupling device F. This cross-bar D connects the vertically-arranged parallel arms G G, the inner sides of which fit against either side of the necks O of the rails. The upper surfaces of said arms G are curved, as shown at g, the

object of which will be presently specified. The opposite ends of the parallel arms G are provided with the horizontally-aligned passages H, which are also in alignment with similar passages in the necks of the rails, and may be engaged, when desired, by bolts I, on the outer ends of which the securing-nuts J are engaged.

In operation, to secure two rails together, as shown in Fig. 4, the ends of the rails are elevated and the device is applied. WVhen releasing the said ends, they resume their normal position, the curved upper surfaces 9 of the parallel arms G allowing the meeting ends A A of the rails to come together, as will be readily understood.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a coupling device F, of the rails A A, provided with the semicircular recesses B B in their meeting ends, substantially as described.

2. In a rail joint or coupling, a device F, having the parallel arms G G extending longitudinally, connected by cross-bar D, curved to conform with the semicircular recesses B B in the meeting ends of the rails, substantially as described.

3. A coupling device F, having cross-bar D, the parallel vertical side arms extending longitudinally from either side or end of the cross-bar D and provided with the curved upper surfaces g, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A coupling device F, provided with the parallel side arms- G G and provided with the passages H H in horizontal alignment with passages through the necks of the rails A A, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. IVICKER. 

